Super Cop, Abba Kyari regains Freedom

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been released from Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after spending 27 months in detention. Kyari was detained following his arrest on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel. He, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022. Two other suspects, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged. Unlike Kyari and the IRT members, who pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were convicted. Despite several attempts, Kyari’s bail applications were consistently denied until a recent ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja. On May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Kyari bail to allow him to perform the burial rites for his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5. As conditions for his bail, Kyari was required to deposit his passport with the court and report to the nearest NDLEA office during the bail period. The court has set a hearing for Kyari’s main bail application related to the drug trafficking charges for May 31, 2024. Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service of the Federal Capital Territory Command, confirmed that Kyari met his bail conditions and was released on Friday. Duza said, “DCP Kyari has perfected his bail conditions, and has since been released today.”

Court refuses terrorists negotiator, Tukur Mamu’s request for transfer to Kuje Prison

Mohammed Tukur Mamu, a terrorist negotiator’s bid to be transfered from the custody of the Department of the State Service, DSS to Kuje Prison in Abuja has been refused by the federal high court, Abuja. Mamu was arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport upon his arrival from Egypt on September 6, 2022, over his alleged relationship with the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022. Consequently, DSS is trying Mamu on 10 counts charge of terrorism financing, among others, but he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been at the custody of the prosecution agency following the refusal of the Court to admit him to bail. In the ruling, the court said that the federal government had raised the issues of incessant jail breaks in prisons as a major ground to oppose the request for transfer to Kuje. According to the judge, since the averments were not challenged by Mamu, they are deemed to be true facts and facts admitted need no further proof. The judge subsequently ordered Mamu to remain in DSS custody throughout his trial in the criminal charges against him. Justice Ekwo, however, affirmed his earlier order that the terrorist negotiator be allowed to access his personal physician for medical treatment with the supervision of the DSS. Mamu, through his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, had on April 29, alleged that the order of the court made on December 19, 2023, that he be allowed access to his personal physician for medical treatment was not complied with by the DSS. In his motion on notice argued by Mohammed, the terrorist negotiator claimed that he was allowed access to the physician once during which a report of comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS. Since the submission of the report, Mamu alleged that the physician had not been allowed to access him and that he needed urgent surgical operations in any hospital in the country. The defendant further claimed that his health had since deteriorated and that he may lose his life any moment if he was not moved out of DSS custody to Kuje Prison. He promised regular attendance in court, adding that he can only stand trial when alive.

Updated: Again, Court Remands Former CBN Gov, Emefiele in Kuje Prison

*Trial Commences November 28 Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Maitama on Friday, remanded a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, in Kuje Prison.  Emefiele will be at the correctional facility till November 22, pending the court’s determination of his bail application. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned the Ex-CBN Boss on a six-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and abuse of office. When the charges were read to him, Emefiele pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Sequel to his not guilty plea, his counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN) prayed the court to grant his client bail because he has suffered unduly, asking the court to use its discretion to grant him bail. “We have placed evidence before your Lordship that the defendant will not jump bail. But the plaintiff has not given sufficient evidence that he would jump bail. We urge your Lordship to grant him bail,” he argued.  Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court to refuse him bail as he would jump bail. In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the ex-CBN Governor should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre till  November 22 for the determination of his application for bail. Meanwhile, November 28 has been fixed for the commencement of his trial. Emefiele will also appear before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the same FCT High Court for a  fundamental human rights enforcement suit, having been illegally detained for 151 days.